Assistance to Lesotho.

  • Author: UN General Assembly (33rd sess. : 1978-1979)
  • Document source:
  • Date:
    19 December 1978

33. RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED ON THE REPORTS OF THE SECOND COMMITTEE*
128. Assistance to Lesotho

The General Assembly,

Recalling Security Council resolution 402 (1976) of 22 December 1976, in which the Council, inter alia, expressed concern at the serious situation created by South Africa's closure of certain border posts between South Africa and Lesotho aimed at coercing Lesotho into according recognition to the bantustan of the Transkei, Commending the decision of the Government of Lesotho not to recognize the Transkei in compliance with United Nations decisions, particularly General Assembly resolution 31/6 A of 26 October 1976, Fully aware that the decision of the Government of Lesotho not to recognize the Transkei has imposed a special economic burden upon its people, Recalling also its resolution 32/98 of 13 December 1977, in which, inter alia, it recognized that the continuing influx of refugees from South Africa imposed an additional burden on Lesotho, Strongly endorsing the appeals made in Security Council resolutions 402 (1976) of 22 December 1976 and 407 (1977) of 25 May 1977, in General Assembly resolution 32/98, and by the Secretary-General, calling on all States, regional and intergovernmental organizations and the appropriate agencies of the United Nations system to contribute generously to the international programme of assistance to enable Lesotho to carry out its economic development and enhance its capacity to implement fully United Nations resolutions, Noting that further restrictions have been imposed by South Africa on travel between Lesotho and that country, Having examined the report of the Secretary-General of 5 June 1978,[1] containing the report of the mission which he sent to Lesotho in response to an urgent request from the Government to assess the impact of the new restrictions on travel and to propose appropriate measures to deal with them, Noting that the new travel restrictions have resulted in a wide range of deficiencies in services in the affected areas of Lesotho and have also had an impact on migrant labour from those areas, Noting also that a number of projects are urgently required to give the affected areas improved access to the rest of Lesotho and assist them in their development, Having examined also the report of the Secretary-General of 14 July 1978,[2] containing the report of the mission which he sent to Lesotho, in response to General Assembly resolution 32/98, to review the economic situation as well as progress in the implementation of the United Nations special economic assistance programme for Lesotho, Noting Economic and Social Council resolution 1978/47 of 2 August 1978, in which the Council fully endorsed the assessment and recommendations for dealing with the situation, contained in the above-mentioned reports of the Secretary-General, and appealed to the international community to provide assistance on a generous scale to Lesotho, Taking note of the policies and programmes of the Government of Lesotho to make farming more productive and remunerative, promote industrial activities, expand social services, especially in the rural areas, and create employment opportunities within Lesotho, all of which will reduce Lesotho's economic dependence on South Africa, Taking account of the concern of the Government of Lesotho regarding the possibility of changed circumstances which could lead to the sudden return of migrant workers from South Africa at a rate faster than Lesotho could absorb them, Noting that, as a result of the uncertainty of the political and economic situation in the region, the Government has had to accelerate key elements of the development programme and to take additional steps to ensure the nation's food supply, Noting with appreciation the generous provision of food aid to Lesotho to help it meet its urgent food requirements and the agreement of some donors to the use of such aid for development purposes, Noting also that it would be of particular help to Lesotho, considering its special circumstances, if food and other material assistance could be provided on cost, insurance and freight terms, as allowed by some bilateral and multilateral agencies in the case of some other land-locked countries, Taking account of Lesotho's position as a least developed, most seriously affected and land-locked country, Noting further the need for technical assistance personnel and the hope expressed by the Government that donors will be increasingly willing to support training in Lesotho,

1. Expresses concern at the imposition of new restrictions by South Africa on travel between Lesotho and that country, thereby adding to the difficulties faced by Lesotho as a result of its decision not to recognize the so-called independent Transkei;

2. Endorses fully the assessment and recommendations for dealing with the situation contained in the reports of the Secretary-General of 5 June 1978 and 14 July 1978;

3. Takes note of the requirements of Lesotho, as described in the reports of the Secretary-General, to carry out the remainder of its development programme and to implement projects necessitated by the current crisis;

4. Expresses its appreciation to the Secretary-General for the measures he has taken to organize an international economic assistance programme for Lesotho;

5. Notes with appreciation the response made thus far by the international community to the special economic assistance programme for Lesotho, which has enabled it to proceed with the implementation of parts of the recommended programme;

6. Reiterates its appeal to Member States, regional and interregional organizations and other intergovernmental bodies to provide financial, material and technical assistance to Lesotho for the implementation of the projects and programmes identified in the Secretary-General's reports;

7. Draws the attention of the international community to the special account which was established at United Nations Headquarters by the Secretary-General, in accordance with Security Council resolution 407 (1977), for the purpose of facilitating the channelling of contributions to Lesotho;

8. Invites the United Nations Development Programme, the United Nations Children's Fund, the World Food Programme, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the World Bank and the International Fund for Agricultural Development to bring to the attention of their governing bodies the assistance they are rendering to Lesotho, for which the General Assembly has requested the Secretary-General to implement a special economic assistance programme, and to report the results of that assistance to the Secretary-General in time for consideration by the Assembly at its thirty-fourth session;

9. Requests the appropriate specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system to co-operate closely with the Secretary-General in organizing an effective international programme of assistance to Lesotho and to report periodically to him on the steps they have taken and the resources they have made available to assist that country;

10. Requests the Secretary-General:

(a) To continue his efforts to mobilize the necessary resources for an effective programme of financial, technical and material assistance to Lesotho;

(b) To maintain close contact with the Government of Lesotho, as well as the United Nations Development Programme, the World Bank and the International Labour Organisation, on the question of formulating adequate contingency plans to deal with any developments which might result in the large-scale repatriation of Lesotho nationals working in South African mines;

(c) To pursue with the Government of Lesotho the question of organizing a meeting of donors and, in this respect, to co-ordinate efforts with the United Nations Development Programme, the Economic Commission for Africa and the World Bank;

(d) To ensure that adequate financial and budgetary arrangements are made to continue the organization of the international programme of assistance to Lesotho and the mobilization of assistance;

(e) To keep the situation in Lesotho under constant review, to maintain close contact with Member States, regional and other intergovernmental organizations, the specialized agencies and international financial institutions concerned and to apprise the Economic and Social Council, at its second regular session of 1979, of the current status of the special economic assistance programme for Lesotho;

(f) To arrange for a review of the economic situation of Lesotho and the progress made in organizing and implementing the special economic assistance programme for that country in time for the matter to be considered by the General Assembly at its thirty-fourth session.

88th plenary meeting
19 December 1978


[1] A/33/112. [2] A/33/Add.1.
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